Gotta be one of the most hotly anticapted albums of 2012.

When I was at sixth form I used to buy the NME every week without fail. One of the bands they use to feature heavily was Test Icicles. (Best or worst name for a band ever? Seven years on, I still can’t decide.

I was minted at the time from 20 hours a week working at the frozen food bastion Iceland and decided to take a punt and purchase their album (no YouTube or Spotify for free sampling in 2004. Imagine.)

Needless to say, I hated it. From the couple of listens I gave it, I just remember noise, like early Horrors.

Test Icicles only stuck around for one album but lead singer Dev Hynes has gone on to become one of the most interesting musicians of the 21st century writing and producing soundtracks, and songs for other artists.

His initial solo project saw him move from electric to acoustic guitar under the moniker Lightspeed Champion and bubbled gently away forming a core group of underground supporters.

Since relocating to New York, a new sound has emerged with Lightspeed being retired and Blood Orange taken up.

The latest incarnation is my favourite. Despite only listening to the August released Coastal Sounds for a few weeks, for want of a better phrase, it feels very now.

Definitely hipster, it covers synthy surf punk and minimalist electro, tight guitar patters, all overlaid with Hynes’ falsetto voice.

Like Hynes’ previous projects, I don’t expect Blood Orange to be around for long before he moves on to something else, so enjoy the cleverly named I’m Sorry We Lied while you can.

Need to watch this later.

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This is a really inspiring community project in Cornwall.

Visit the website for more information http://www.peopleandgardens.co.uk/

Produced by Jamie XX. I cannot get enough.

This is a brilliant video for newish British prospect Little Comets and a perfect example of a promo bringing the music to life.

I’m written before of my love for the work of Shane Meadows, particularly This is England, and his influence is all over this video.

I really like the editing, the smaller use of cut shots, but what the video really shows me is effort; somebody on a small budget, going out there and taking the time to research their subject properly, and coming back with the goods.

With the increase in the quality of HD ready cameras and standard mac compatible editing equipment, this type of production is going to become increasingly commonplace. I can’t wait.

The American Rock duo from Ohio, Black Keys, never disappoint, and so it is with the first single from their 7th album El Camino.

Black Keys are the closest I get to listening to classic rock; the band I buy my Dad for Christmas in the hope that he’ll be proud of my music taste.

As a live prospect, they’re fantastic. What they lack in numbers they more than make up for in showmanship and musical talent.

Lovely video too.

I don’t often post political stuff on this blog, but the contents of the video above it frankly disgusting.